Esteban Ocon in contention to be partnered with young Ferrari prospect for 2025: Reports

Recent rumors claim that Esteban Ocon is linked to Haas amid a heated driver market. Since Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman has also been rumored to join F1 with the American team, both drivers could potentially drive side by side.

The Alpine F1 team started the 2024 F1 season on the back foot due to a brand-new car concept they introduced for future seasons. Since the team is still learning about the car and making gradual upgrades, it has only scored one championship point in the seven races held so far in the season.

Since the Enstone team has gradually gone backward in the past few years, rumors emerged of Ocon looking elsewhere to continue his F1 career. As per formu1a.uno, the French driver has already initiated contract discussions with Haas, as he seeks options for the 2025 season.

Duly, Haas has had a vacant seat in their driver lineup ever since Nico Hulkenberg confirmed his move to Sauber in 2025, as they plan to merge with Audi in 2026. Speculations that the American team could be eyeing Bearman for their second driver seat started as soon as Hulkenberg's departure announcement was made

In fact, Oliver Bearman has worked with Haas before as their reserve driver and has taken part in a few F1 practice sessions for them. Most recently, he raced for Ferrari at the 2024 F1 Saudi Arabian GP, replacing an appendicitis-diagnosed Carlos Sainz. The young F2 driver was excellent during the race weekend, qualifying P11 and finishing P7.

Since both Ocon and Bearman are rumored to be linked with Haas, there is a small but veritable chance that both could soon become teammates in 2025.

---

F1 pundit predicts Esteban Ocon's move to Haas and his pairing with Ferrari junior

Recently, F1 expert and Dutch host Jack Plooij predicted that Esteban Ocon would join Haas and race alongside Oliver Bearman. The racing pundit has been able to foresee several F1 driver market transfers before they happened.

Plooij predicted on Ziggo Sports that Sergio Perez and Max Verstappen will remain at Red Bull. At Mercedes, George Russell will be paired with the team junior Kimi Antonelli. Jack Doohan enters F1 with Alpine and races alongside Pierre Gasly. Alex Albon is joined by Valtteri Bottas who returns to Williams. Yuki Tsunoda remains in RB and is paired with Liam Lawson. Nico Hulkenberg and Carlos Sainz join Audi. Finally, Esteban Ocon and Ferrari junior Oliver Bearman join Haas.

“Verstappen and Perez are staying. Russell is already there, at Mercedes, and we will place, yes, Kimi Antonelli there. Gasly stays at Alpine, and then Jack Doohan joins. Bottas returns to Williams with Albon. Yuki Tsunoda is doing very well, so he can stay. Lawson gets the chance, he can do it, at RB. Then Sainz goes to Audi and Bearman goes to Haas. And then comes the biggest one: Ocon is also going to Haas!” Plooij said.

After the Imola GP, Esteban Ocon is 15th in the 2024 F1 drivers' championship with only one point.